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After a primary season marked by record-shattering voter turnout, election officials across the country are bracing for what might be an Election Day like no other.

Many state and local election officials expect turnout in the Nov. 4 presidential election to exceed that of 2004, when voter turnout hit 61 percent — which was the highest level since 1968, according to the Center for the Study of the American Electorate.

“November could see the highest turnout of my lifetime,” said Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer, 63. “Turnout could be up to as much as 80 percent.”

Arizona, of course, is home to the presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain. But election administrators across the country are warning of the possibility of a turnout tsunami, a prospect that both thrills and alarms them.

Much of that voter interest has been stoked by a drawn-out and highly competitive Democratic contest between two historic candidates. But interest also has been unusually high on the Republican side.

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The first clue about this year’s election came in the nation’s first primary on Jan. 8, when more than 529,711 New Hampshire residents voted in the Democratic and Republican primaries, smashing the state’s presidential primary record of 396,385 set in 2000.

“That’s usually a general election turnout number,” said Secretary of State Bill Gardner, noting that about 578,000 voted in the November 2000 general election.

On Super Tuesday alone, turnout records were set in 15 states where both parties held Feb. 5 primaries. Twelve states saw record-breaking Democratic turnout while 11 set Republican turnout records.

In Missouri, more than 780,000 voters participated in the Democratic primary — a 47 percent increase over the previous record. In New Jersey, more than 1.1 million Democrats voted, a whopping 69 percent increase from the previous high. And Massachusetts saw a 48 percent voter participation increase over its record high.

While election administrators love to see higher-than-usual voter participation, the prospect of a turnout wave in November has many officials biting their nails over whether they’ll be able to handle it. Throughout the protracted presidential primary season, complaints ranging from long lines at polls to ballot irregularities frequently surfaced, in addition to concerns voiced over the reliability of electronic voting systems.

In the Feb. 12 District of Columbia primary, many polling places ran out of paper ballots. A week earlier, precincts across California reported similar ballot shortages.

waiting in line for the grand socialistic paradise of the Hillarycares when the government angel bureaucrats will be coming down from the hillary cloud heavens to end the sufferings of the life on earth with the 200 point governmental programs

who would not want to be voting for the WAR HERO commander hillary clinton who saved the sinbad and the chelsea from the Bosnian sniper fires but the SWINE HORDES POLITICO PUNDITS WILL NOT REPORT THIS HEROICS because they are in bed with the O'Bambis and McCainiacs

From all those newly regestered voters I've talked to, they are either: 1) Registering so they CAN vote for Obama because they are "inspired" for the first time, or 2) Registering to "make sure" the Clinton dynasty ended in January, 2001

Either way...this may not be good news for Team Billary who wants to destroy the party unless they're on the ticket.

The only way I can see a record turnout is if Obama is the nominee. A record amount of African Americans and the youth vote will come out in record numbers to vote for him. Which might just be enough coupled with his share of white voters to make him president.

It is possible for Democrats, but conservative are not thrilled with very liberal McCain. We are stuck with him thanks to the liberal media and cross over primary voters. Just glad we can return the favor. What goes around comes around.

There are BUSLOADS of people coming to the upcoming primaries to vote for Hillary. Of course, they are being bussed in from other states, and the Clinton campaign will take them out to dinner and pay them "a little something" for their time (and their cooperation).

The same has been predicted for at least the past 3 elections. They were all going to be earth-shattering turnouts. If they can't even predict who is going to win in November why should they be trusted to predict how many people will vote? It is nonsense.

The petition Please sign the petition so the voices of all 50 states are heard. Michigan and Florida have been disenfranchised by the DNC. The voter's should not be held responsible for the flawed leadership of the DNC.

The UNITED STATES consists of 50 states and all voices from every state should count.

South Carolina, Iowa, New Hampshire held primaries earlier then they were suppose to and the DNC did not penalize them.

A double standard seems to be the DNC's practice.

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED -- sign the petition so we can nominate a candidate that reflects the voices of all the people of the United States.

Here we go again. Anyone that thought 2000 was bad, the dopes will be coming out in full force! How many recounts will the babies require this time? I'm not sure there will be anyone left after the Denver cage match.

Yeah, thank you Bushie. Your incompetence reminds Americans that they should care and must vote to prevent administrations such as this one! It only cost us the economy, the constitution, a trillion dollars and the lives of 4000 soliders and countless Iraqis. What a deal!

Please sign the petition so the voices of all 50 states are heard. Michigan and Florida have been disenfranchised by the DNC. The voter's should not be held responsible for the flawed leadership of the DNC.

The UNITED STATES consists of 50 states and all voices from every state should count.

South Carolina, Iowa, New Hampshire held primaries earlier then they were suppose to and the DNC did not penalize them.

A double standard seems to be the DNC's practice.

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED -- sign the petition so we can nominate a candidate that reflects the voices of all the people of the United States.

Only IF Obama is the nominee. If Hillary steals the nomination, voter turnout will drop like a stone.

Dear Kingsford,

You're another one that just doesn't understand the rules as they are written. If you understood the role of a super-delegate, you would realize that they are not constrained and free to vote their conscience.

Osama has made the choice of making himself unmarketable. This will be weighed in heavily by the SD's and they will not care about anyone's crying. Get over it!

You can't steal something that is permissable by the rules. Learn your own party's rules, as written. And to all the other lib loons, please stop crying about the SD's.

A revote in either of these states would have to have John Edwards on the ballot, he had not dropped out of the race when these primaries were held.. I would of voted for Edwards. but he played by the rules, he still has delegates I hope he give them to Obama..

Yeah, thank you Bushie. Your incompetence reminds Americans that they should care and must vote to prevent administrations such as this one! It only cost us the economy, the constitution, a trillion dollars and the lives of 4000 soliders and countless Iraqis. What a deal!

Just think if Bush leaves the next president with a pending 9/11, countless corporate scandals (Enron), and pending recession (will be over by November), an unprepared military and an unprepared intelligence network. If he left the president with all these problems, that would be terrible. Wouldn't you agree?

A revote in either of these states would have to have John Edwards on the ballot, he had not dropped out of the race when these primaries were held.. I would of voted for Edwards. but he played by the rules, he still has delegates I hope he give them to Obama..

I think Edwards agreed to sell his delegates to Hillary for a Vidal Sasson franchise.

Only IF Obama is the nominee. If Hillary steals the nomination, voter turnout will drop like a stone.

Actually if Obama is the nominee 19% of Hillary voters will vote for McCain and if Hillary is the nominee 20% of Obama supporter will vote for McCain. This according to Pennsylvania polls which according to Hillary is the "bellwether state". I expect if any records are broken it will be by Democrats crossing party lines to elect John McCain.